2strokeYardSale
Moab on my mind
Whenever somebody asks, "Which should I get for home defense, shotgun or pistol?" I always say shotgun. Or if they ask, "Which pistol should I get for home defense?" I say none, get a shotgun. Pistols are hard to shoot because they are only hand-held. Shotguns are easy to shoot because they have shoulder stocks. As a bonus, buckshot stops attackers better than a pistol bullet.
This weekend I put my video where my mouth is. I did comparisons of "cold runs" (without practice) of my pistol and my shotgun.
I took my dry-as-a-bone Remington 870 Police Magnum from my bedroom to the range, without unloading the six Federal 00B low recoil shells that have sat in its magazine for the past seven years. I took my favorite competition pistol with hot 180gr jacketed hollow point loads, like what you might load your .40S&W house gun with.
Targets were approximately 5 yards, 15 yards, and 10 yards, engaged in that order. Gun started at low ready, safety off, like you might encounter home invaders.
After the initial cold runs, I practiced a lot with the pistol and a little with the shotgun, then did another run with each gun on another, farther, target arrangement. I also fired a slug at the upper panel of the far target to show the accuracy of the single front bead sight.
I have not fired a shotgun since at least 2005. I have not fired my 870, or any pump, since 2004 or earlier, but probably more like 1999. I was never a shotgun expert or anything but I recall running .60 second transitions with my 870 shooting steel plates at ~10 yards.
I most recently fired a handgun last week. I have fired 100-450 handgun rounds per week since spring. I have had the highest handgun classification with the U.S. Practical Shooting Association since 2005. I shoot handguns competitively because it is difficult.
[youtube]IfkY0JBzJVY[/youtube]
Lessons learned: Take the scattergun to the range once a year, run some rounds through it, clean it, and lube it. Shotguns still rule. Sh-shuck!
This weekend I put my video where my mouth is. I did comparisons of "cold runs" (without practice) of my pistol and my shotgun.
I took my dry-as-a-bone Remington 870 Police Magnum from my bedroom to the range, without unloading the six Federal 00B low recoil shells that have sat in its magazine for the past seven years. I took my favorite competition pistol with hot 180gr jacketed hollow point loads, like what you might load your .40S&W house gun with.
Targets were approximately 5 yards, 15 yards, and 10 yards, engaged in that order. Gun started at low ready, safety off, like you might encounter home invaders.
After the initial cold runs, I practiced a lot with the pistol and a little with the shotgun, then did another run with each gun on another, farther, target arrangement. I also fired a slug at the upper panel of the far target to show the accuracy of the single front bead sight.
I have not fired a shotgun since at least 2005. I have not fired my 870, or any pump, since 2004 or earlier, but probably more like 1999. I was never a shotgun expert or anything but I recall running .60 second transitions with my 870 shooting steel plates at ~10 yards.
I most recently fired a handgun last week. I have fired 100-450 handgun rounds per week since spring. I have had the highest handgun classification with the U.S. Practical Shooting Association since 2005. I shoot handguns competitively because it is difficult.
[youtube]IfkY0JBzJVY[/youtube]
Lessons learned: Take the scattergun to the range once a year, run some rounds through it, clean it, and lube it. Shotguns still rule. Sh-shuck!
